WARMSTONE

Hope is the poor man’s bread.  ~Gary Herbert

I was not able to participate in the last two Photohunt challenges because of the holidays and as usual, because of the chores that were waiting for me.  There were a lot of parties and gatherings, too, that we have to attend.

Today’s theme is interesting.  It is evident that we have to hope for the best in every situation.  We have to hope even in the middle of uncertainties.  As I was writing this, Jessica Soho’s tv series Kapuso Mo reports on how hope brought change in Los Banos, Laguna by implementing the “No Plastic Policy”.   It is interesting to see how the supermarkets in this town are using paper bags instead of plastic bags.  In the wet markets, where use of plastic sando bags cannot be avoided, they collect, grind  and used them in the production of hollow blocks and roofing materials.  This way, the plastic bags do not have to burned that will cause toxic smoke.  Plastic materials are nonbiodegradable and take 1000 years before they can be destroyed.  This is particularly the reason why the town resorted to focusing on the policy to save the environment and its constituents.  It was once reported that the town faced an almost unsolvable predicament on the tons of plastic in their dump site.

photohunt

Tags: children, hope, no plastic policy, photohunt

Every first of January, we go to Papsie’s relatives in a nearby area.  These are his relatives from his father’s side.  The practice was done religiously every year.  I can still remember that most of his young nephews and nieces go with us to visit these relatives every New Year.  It was actually an extension of the Christmas celebration.  These young kids received money as Christmas gifts.  Some of them received wrapped gifts, too.  They used to compare how much each of them got from their lolos and lolas, and aunts and uncles.

It was only me and Papsie among the many adults in the family who went with them and assisted them and sometimes up to the point of taking care of them.  It was nothing actually.  We did not expect the parents or anybody to thank us.   I am not counting what me and Papsie had done for their family.  Anyway, we did what we have to do for the young boys and girls.    I just cannot help but reminisce now that I have seen them grow up.  Some of them do not go with the group anymore.   They belong to the working class already.

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Tags: New Year celebration, relatives, types of parents, upbringing, young children

New Year has come.  There were no lingering blasts from firecrackers unlike last year.   There were no pollutant smogs hovering, no black nose holes (at least in our family), and no eardrum-wrecking noise pollution that stayed long til the wee hours.  And yet, I am still awake and it’s already past 4 am.  The replica watches tell me so.

Minutes before New Year, I uttered a prayer for me and for the whole family, the extension included.  Most of my supplication focused on Papsie.  He deserves to receive the prayers and the support.  If you had been reading my blog, you already know my hubby’s health condition, and for those who are new - my husband is hypertensive and is physically challenged.

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Tags: New Year, New Year's prayers, New Year's wishes, wishes, wishes for husband

The Christmas celebration is great but tiring.  From Christmas eve and the following Christmas day, there were three parties.  They are not big parties actually but I got so stressed because of the preparations.

I tried posting in the evening of 25 about the events but connection was so slow.  I wonder if my computer memory has something to do with it.  I got tired of waiting for the pages to load, and got tired of waiting for the pictures to upload.  So I stopped and decided to do it the following day.  But the chores were waiting.

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Tags: Christmas, Christmas parties, Christmas season, food for Christmas, gifts, parties, party

I will not be around ’til after Christmas day.   I have to greet you all with an advance greeting because most probably I will not be around bloghopping.  Actually, I haven’t been, for goodness sake, bloghopping religiously, consistently, seriously, and passionately for months! But for now, it will truly be a busy week.  I still have work till the 24th.  So folks, I know I owe you a lot but there will be time for us after this season. (I am crossing my fingers.)

Just a word of advice -  stop taking your diet pills just for the season (he he).  It will be like punishing yourself.   There will be lots of delicious, creamy, crunchy, smelling-good dishes and why would you not allow yourself to indulge just for once?  My friend, that would be a bit harsh on yourself.  I am just concerned.  LOL

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Tags: Christmas, Christmas greetings, diet pills, food for Christmas, foods, word of advice

Yes, we thought that dogs are better than cats.  That was last night after fetching the kids from a convenient store.  They had fun riding the boat watching the parade of displays at the Marikina River Banks.  Without us (Papsie and I).  I tell you, it’s true.   When kids begin to grow like young adults, they begin to enjoy gimmicks without us, the parents.   :-D  But this would be a good discussion for another post, I think.

Dogs are creatures that serve masters.  Unlike the felines at home.  I remember Nico how he accurately described the differences between a pet dog and a pet cat.   Cats are like kings and queens.  I could not agree more.  I remember our pet dogs barking and making sounds when they feel our presence coming home.  But the felines did not even budge when we came home.  They were so comfortable cuddled in the sofa.  They just simply lifted their heads a little and looked at us with their squinted chinky eyes.

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Tags: cats, dogs, owning a dog, pet supplements, pets

Christmas is here again. Only nine days left and it’s Christmas day. Only fourteen days left and it’s 2009.  I don’t actually need a Patek Philippe timepiece to count each precious day, and hour, and second.  It’s simple Math.

2008 is about to end.  Nothing monumental about my life’s diary pages.  If that would mean big bucks, or a promising career that could give me success which is actually equivalent to lots of money. Nothing.  Perhaps if I would choose to be melodramatic,  one of the best happenings this year is when Daryl passed UPCAT.  Or when my brother finally thought of changing his life and become productive and useful.

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Tags: 2008 ends, 2008 wrap-up, 2009 begins, business ventures, Christmas, Christmas season, diaries, organizational decisions, recession, streamlining, wrap-up

I had mentioned that children are the best photography subjects. One of my favorite is Jay who had been featured many times in this site. Jay is a natural. He may not be the ideal kid on the block but he is a happy child who can be happy even when alone. I suspect he has ADHD. But I am not his parent so I cannot impose my desires of having him diagnosed by an expert. I feel sad at times that he is misconstrued as unruly and undisciplined. I see it differently.

I do not have the abundance of time to visit every photo hunter but do visit and check what they have for the theme in this address - Photohunt.

photohunt

Tags: children, favorite, favorite child, favorite nephew, favorite photography subject, photography subjects, photohunt

Times are hard and having a sideline to augment the daily financial needs is just appropriate.  We Filipinos are a persevering and hardworking lot.  Resilience is a character that defines us.  Remember, a survey said that we are one among the happiest nation.  But I digress.

I was just thinking if you are to run a small business will you choose to sell candles and Votive candle holders?  Or will you choose to sell colognes and perfumes?  Will you prefer selling squid balls and fish balls instead? Choosing what business to undertake truly is a difficult decision.

To sell food items definitely sounds like a good idea but how ready the owner is to face the challenge and the demand must be the foremost thing to consider.   Food preparation is not an easy task and requires a number of workers or employees.  If you will choose to sell colognes and perfumes, the challenge is how to outdo the popularity of the others, how to price it low, and how to lure people to choose fragrances in their list of items to buy.  If you will choose to sell candles and its holders, the challenge is more difficult.  Who would buy a scented candle when your money is just enough to buy food?

Hah! Just thinking about it makes my head ache.

Tags: candle holders, colognes and perfumes, hard times, how to cope with the hard times, recession, side jobs, sidelines, street food

(Image courtesy of Yahoo News Gallery.)

I now feel sorry for De la Hoya.  And I was wrong to have doubted Manny Pacquiao’s prowess.  I was not at home to watch the fight because I was godmother to Guyle.  But I was able to see the first round and like Manny Pacquiao’s wife, I had that feeling Manny Pacquiao will win the fight.  He was moving with such speed that even De la Hoya’s long reach could not do anything to stop the coming punches on his face.

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Tags: December 7 boxing fight, Dream Match winner, Manny Pacquiao, Pacquiao wins